Airbus Claims Order, Delivery Crown

Airbus set a new record for itself last year by delivering 483 aircraft–30 more than it shipped in 2007, the Toulouse-based company announced today. Last year’s delivery tally for Airbus also beat Boeing’s total by 108 units. The U.S. airframer’s total suffered directly from a two-month strike by machinists that resulted in a decline in deliveries from 441 in 2007 to 375 last year. Airbus noted that since 2002 it has achieved a successive delivery increase in each subsequent year.

Airbus also booked firm orders for 777 airplanes worth $100 billion at list prices last year, resulting in a firm order backlog of 3,715 airplanes and giving it a 54-percent share of the market for commercial airplanes holding more than 100 seats. Boeing logged firm orders for 662 commercial airplanes last year.